does porting help short barrel guns

[twomoons]

guys,does porting really reduce recoil in these 3 inch or less guns.i see a lot of short barrel taurus guns ,and other models ported.any advice is appreciated gents.you have been great in your advice on other questions i have had.

 

[Class III]

Don't plan on shooting it more than once in a dark environment. Muzzle flash will nix your night vision and limit your recovery time.

Class III

 

[koz5614]

I noticed a difference between my 940 and 940PC when shooting 124gr GDHPs.

 

[ChattCat]

Yes

Had a mod. 65 3 inch ported it really made for faster recovery time with full house loads. But the muzzle blast is more noticeable and as noted previously may not aid in recovery time at night. In a selfdefence setting you may not even notice though.

 

[8thring]

sp101

guys,does porting really reduce recoil in these 3 inch or less guns.i see a lot of short barrel taurus guns ,and other models ported.any advice is appreciated gents.you have been great in your advice on other questions i have had.

yes; i have 4 ports on my ruger sp10, also have a radius done on the trigger and replaced the factory grips with wood finger groove badgers. the gun was unbearable to shoot with hot loads before but now handles them with ease.

 

[sourdough44]

As a handloader my solution is to load modest loads for most shooting & save the full house loads for only when needed. Yes, a little testing beforehand.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Did for me and my 60-10, especially with .357 magnum rounds. Made recovery times quicker and less muzzle rise. The difference at night is not much worse than shooting off during the day IMO as you'll still be lighting up the sky. My only complaint is the cleanup afterwards and the extra muzzle blast. Double hearing protection is also a must with a ported revolver.

 

[Mack]

IMO ports have no place on a self defense handgun, ammo selection is way more important. Those that insist on firing full bore .357's out of short barrel J or K frames need to research ammo more instead of poking extra holes in their barrels. Anyone who desecrates a 3" K frame barrel with ports has just ruined that barrel for future generation. YMMV.

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

Yes, it does have a place. It will significantly decrease the perceived recoil and muzzle flip. It is louder and will hamper your night vision after the first shot.

They also make the gun harder to clean. I've owned several compensated pistols and revolvers over the years. They have been Magna-ported or Power-ported. All have been a royal pain to clean.

 

[photoman]

The ports will reduce muzzle flip, increase report and redirect blast upward so I don't recommended them for self defense guns that, more than likely, will be used at contact distance.

 

[dwever]

Bad idea. If you want to control recoil and you can deal with a few extra oz., go to an N Frame such as the PC 627 snubbie (2.625"). For lighter frames such as a J, learn recoil control techniques such as isometric pressure (that takes the right grips).

If you want the effects of a ported snubbie in low light, just shine a bright flashlight in your eye and leave your barrel alone.

 

[diamonback68]

Porting is beyond a shadow of a doubt the dumbest idea ever concieved of for a short barrel handgun.

 

[semperfi71]

I have found that a magna-ported barrel will not shoot lead bullets very accurately in my onlu ported handgun. The lead builds up in the ports. And...to add to other posts here...a pain to clean.

To me not being able to shoot lead bullets in a handgun is a BIG drawback.

The magna-porting does not seem to affect velocity in my handgun.

With the variety of factory ammunition today, and as others said "with the ability to reload", I find any porting not necessary.

 

[Dpris]

Some people laugh, but I had it done on my 3-inch GP several years ago & it does make a difference.

I even tested it with half a dozen or so .357 loads in the dark. With today's flash-retardant powders, you may have to try several commercial loads, but in some the muzzle flash was no issue whatever.

I don't find it a bad idea at all & my spare 3-inch GP will also have it done one of these days.
Denis

 

[Ashlander]

Mack: You have a legitimate point on ammo selection being a major consideration with regard to concealed carry. Still in all, if somebody buys a gun and wants to port it -- desigration is perhaps to harsh a word -- guns are not religious relics. While we S&W forum guys might stress a bit over whether a gun is in it's orginal factory configuration -- most people don't care and a lot of folks will actually see the porting as a plus. That said, I understand your implied point that the collector's value of the gun drops like a rock.

 

[stantheman86]

I despise porting of any kind in any firearm, but that's just my opinion. I don't feel any of my guns need holes in the barrels.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Definitely worked on my 3" 629-2.

My friend has the same gun in blued steel and I can not handle shooting my 265g cast loads in his, but they're quite OK in mine.

Longer barrel guns, at least in my personal experience with my own guns, do not benefit as much from porting as short barrels.

As to the cleaning, it's a non issue IMO. Never had a problem or needed any extra elbow grease and all I shoot is my own cast bullets.

 

[getoff]

works great on my 28" o/u for sporting clays... i'm with others here, do some ammo testing and you'll find the right load for any situation.

 

[Ashlander]

Stantheman86: Except the one in the front.

 

[Dpris]

Ash,
Naw, let him be. If he prefers no holes in his barrels, it's his right.
Denis